DARREN HUCKERBY

'Darren Carl Huckerby' (born April 23, 1976 in Nottingham, England), is a professional footballer who has played for Lincoln City, Millwall (on loan), Newcastle United, Coventry City, Leeds United, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest (on loan), and now Norwich City. He won an England 'B' cap in 1998 against Chile 'B' at The Hawthorns. Huckerby spent a three month loan spell with Norwich before signing for them permanently in December 2003, for a fee of around £750,000. He is a winger who can also play as a conventional forward. Huckerby is the current holder of the Norwich City player of the year award.
Huckerby won first division championship medals with Manchester City in 2002 and Norwich City in 2004, and was a member of the Nottingham Forest team that reached the division one play-offs in 2003.
Huckerby is a player who has excited supporters wherever he has played with his pace and flair, although at some of his clubs he made an early impact before losing form and moving on. Consequently he has played for a number of clubs. However, he now appears to have settled at Norwich City. He was instrumental in Norwich's march to the Division One championship in the 2003-04 season, and came second in the supporters vote for player of the season behind Craig Fleming.
Huckerby has often been described by pundits as "too good for The Championship but not good enough for The Premiership". In many spells in the second tier of English football, Huckerby has terrorised defences, including scoring 26 times for Manchester City in their 2001-02 promotion season. Since moving to Norwich, Huckerby's career has settled. In a striking role in the then First Division in 2003-04, he netted 14 times. Reverting to a left wing role for much of Norwich's Premiership spell in 2004-05, Huckerby scored a respectable seven goals and dazzled fans and pundits alike with his skillful dribbling and quick turn of pace down the left flank. His accurate delivery resulted in a number of assists which came close to preserving Norwich's Premiership status. Linked with a move to Liverpool in January 2005 and to Celtic in summer 2006, Huckerby spoke of his intention to see out his contract in East Anglia, even after relegation. He was voted Norwich City player of the year by supporters for the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons and second place behind Gary Doherty for the 2005-06 season. He was voted into the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame in 2004.
In his time at Coventry he scored one of the most memorable goals in the Premiership against Manchester United who at that time were the current champions. It was 2 - 2 with 90 minutes on the clock and the referee was seconds from blowing the whistle. Huckerby collected the ball and dribbled from the half way line past numerous players and finished into the bottom left corner to help Coventry win the game 3 - 2.
On 9 December 2006, Huckerby signed a new contract with Norwich that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2007-08 season.
On 17 July 2007 Huckerby openly criticised the Norwich City board after news that they were selling fellow canary and friend, Dickson Etuhu.
Darren Huckerby will be called up to the England Squad for the next game against Russia due to his good form for the Canaries and injuries to other england stars

Contents

Honours

As a player

External links

Honours

As a player

★ First division championship winner 2002, 2004

★ Norwich City player of the year 2005, 2007

External links

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